Ha-Rav answers hundreds of text messages questions a day! Here's a sample:Giving Away Parts of Eretz YisraelQ: If, in theory, giving away a small part of Eretz Yisrael would bring true peace, would it be permissible?A: No. Just like you would not give your wife to your neighbor for a short time in order to bring peace between you and your neighbor. In any case, one should not deal with unrealistic questions.

Private MarriageQ: I am about to get married to a woman, but on account of the marriage she will lose a large sum of money she receives monthly for being an army widow. Can I marry her before two witnesses without registering with the Chief Rabbinate?A: It is forbidden. 1. According to the law. 2. According to the Halachah. 3. Theft.

Stealing from a Non-JewQ: Is it permissible to steal from an Arab?A: G-d forbidden. It is theft and a desecration of Hashem's Name (see Be'er Ha-Golah, Choshen Mishpat 348:1).

SuicideQ: Why is someone who committed suicide buried with everyone else, when it is mentioned in the Halachah that he should not be?A: Perhaps he regretted his actions; perhaps he lacked sanity (Aruch Ha-Shulchan, Yoreh Deah 345:5).

Health InsuranceQ: Should one have full-coverage health insurance?A: Yes. It is very important. It is essential for any illness, may one not come (see Rabbi Avraham ben Ha-Rambam, Ha-Maspik Le-Ovdei Hashem, Sha'ar Ha-Bitachon. Kovetz Teshuvot of Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv vol. 1).

Broken MirrorQ: It is permissible to have a broken mirror in a room?A: There is no problem.

Prayer for the State of IsraelQ: Do I have to stand for the Prayer for the State of Israel? I am Sefardic and do not stand for Kaddish. Which is more important?A: It depends on the custom of each place. Regarding the issue of standing: we do not stand for the Shema, which is more important than Baruch She-Amar.

IslamQ: Is it permissible to go to a Muslim ceremony that is held in their museum?A: No. Islam is heresy, since it claims that the Torah has been nullified. We do not strengthen those who are transgressing.

After VomitingQ: I ate a meat meal and vomited. Do I have to wait before eating dairy?A: Yes. According to the reasoning of the Rambam, we wait because of the fear that there is meal between one's teeth (Ma'achalot Asurot 9:28).

Tefilat Ha-DerechQ: Is one obligated to recite Tefilat Ha-Derech while standing?A: Some halachic authorities write that one should stand; it is therefore a positive act. However, it was decided that one does not need to, based on the basic meaning of the Gemara (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 68:4).

Wrapped CakesQ: Is it permissible to buy wrapped cakes with Kosher certification in a store which does not have certification?A: Yes. And it is not Ma'arit Ayin, since everyone knows that there are Kosher products there.

DreamsQ: Is there any meaning in dreams?A: Not in our days. Almost all of them are extensions of a person’s thoughts during waking hours.

FriendsQ: Following the death of my father, my friends have distanced themselves from me. How did I act wrongly?A: They acted wrongly. But this is a complex subject. You can call me.

Jokes about the HolocaustQ: Is it permissible to tell black-humored jokes about the Holocaust?A: G-d forbid!!!!

Confiscating a Student's BelongingQ: Is it permissible for a teacher to confiscate a student's belonging for the entire year?A: It all depends on the school's rules, which a student accepts upon entrance.

Mourner's HouseQ: Is it forbidden to sleep in a mourner's house?A: No.

Blood in an EggQ: Why don't we check hard-boiled eggs for blood?A: Because it is rare to find blood. Only when we open an egg do we check (Rama, Yoreh Deah 66:8. Aruch Ha-Shulchan ibid. #11. And the Chazon Ish also did not check hard-boiled eggs. His brother-in-law, Ha-Rav Y.Y. Kanievski - the "Steipler" was, however, particular to check, and his wife related that he was sometimes stricter on certain things than her brother, the Chazon Ish – Orchot Rabbenu vol. 1 p. 239 #11 and vol. 3 p. 70 #8).

Mission Statement

To Enrich the spiritual life of the English-speaking World through the Torah of Ha-Rav Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Ateret Yerushalayim in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. By offering English translations of Rav Aviner’s written and oral Torah, this division of the yeshiva aims to expose English speakers to a powerful, sensitive and poetic voice unparalleled in our time. His unfailing optimism, his tolerance and love all Jews, his guidance for harmony within the Jewish family and his dedication to Eretz Yisrael, the State of Israel and Tzahal will inspire and enrich the lives of all who may now have access to his words.